Automatic torpedo-guard.



1.8: A. MOR CH.

AUTOMATIC TORPEDO GUARD. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1912.

Patentefi Den. 4, 1912.v

3 SHEETSeSHEET I.

WITNESS INVENTOR ATTORNEY '1. Q A. MORCH.

AUTOMATIC TORPEDO GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, I917. lifiwflmc Patented M1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Wrmma flcsjagzowgggg.

M'rToRN EV J. & A. MORCH.

AUTQMATIC TORPEDO GUARD.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 24, 19W.

Patented Des. 4, 191?.

3 $HEETS-SHEET 3.

ATTORNEY I irnn smarts manna carton.

JOHN MORGH AND ANTHONY MORCH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

Be it known that we,'Jo1-IN Monorr and ANTHoNY MoRcH, citizens of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State :of New York, have in-.

a unit mounted in a substantially vertical position and including a rigid member and a plurality of resiliently mounted buffers or bufling devices arranged to deflect a torpedo which is about to come into contact with the hull of the ship.

A further object is to construct a unit of the character specified, such units being mounted in parallel series, so thatupon the engagement of one buffer by a torpedo, that buffer will be immediately thrown out of normal position, deflecting the torpedo, and will mechanically operate the other buffers, resiliently mounted, which will also be thrown out of normal position and will cause the torpedo to continue in the direction in which it has been deflected, or substantially in that direction, until further danger has passed.

A still further object is to provide certain novel mechanical construction especially adapted to carry out the purposes of the device as aboveset forth.

In the drawing forming part of this application V Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing a series of guards as applied to a portion of the side of a vessel.

Fig. 2 is a Vertical transverse section through a portion ofa ships hull showing one ofthe units of the guard in side elevation.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate thev buffers in elevation with parts in section showing the mounting means.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the action of Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMATIC TORLPEDO-GUARD.

impact and compression.

Reierrlng to the drawings in detail, it

each including a plurality of buffing devices is arranged about the sides of the ship, such units extending from a point at or near the water line toward the keel. The length of the units may vary according to the type of vessel to be protected. The units each co1nprise a channel member 10, the flanges of which are provided with apertures 12 in which are mounted the buifers described below. Each channel member may have its flanges cut away near the ends as shown at 14 and these cut-away portions terminate at a point adjacent to an end member 15 which is apertured at 16 for the purpose of securing the leaf springs 20 of U-shape formation pivotally connected with adjacent Patented Dec. 4, 1191 '7. Application filed February 24, 1917. Serial N 0. 150,761.

certain of the buffers and springs undermay'first be observed'that a series of units,

28 of bufiers 30. Springs 20 have the ends thereof not already referred to connected by means of bolts 31 with shank members 28 in a similar manner. These shank members are recessed in the manner shown and provide for the accommodation of the springs above mentioned.

Buffers 30 of any suitable materlal are between said buffers. The larger buffers 30 are properly spaced and between each pair is a smaller bufiing device 85 mounted on leaf spring 25 and having pivotal connection therewith. If the torpedo strikes one of the smaller buffers first, the latter will be defiected and the spring 25 will be placed under tension causing movement to be transmitted to theadjacent buffers 30 in view of the pivotal connection with springs 25 and the torpedo will therefore be further deflected after having passed buffer 35 until its course is such that no further danger of injury to the ship will be possible. If the torpedo, strikes the bufling device 35 at a different angle so that it is deflected toward thebow or stern of the ship the deflecting action will be continued by the bu'fling devices of the unit next adjacent.

The mounting of buffer 35 differs from that of buffer 30,'which latter are pivotally securedfbetween leaf springs 20 and 25, whereas buffer 85 is mounted on leaf spring 25. This device 35 is spaced slightly from spring 25 by means of a coiled spring 40 and 1 is secured by a staple 41 which in turn has connection with the staple 42 passing in a transverse direction with reference to leaf spring 25. and extending therethrough. Staplecoupling member 42 is threaded at its lower end and passes through a member 43 provided with longitudinal bores 44,. Member 43 is disposed in an outer tube 45, the upper edges of which are flared as shownat 46. A nut 47 engages the threads of member 45 and a washer L8 provided with apertures 9 for the legs of the staple is located. adjacent to said nut a7. Lock washers 50*are then placed around the ends of the staple or coupling member and are secured by nuts51 provided with apertures for the reception of cotter pins 52. By this ar-' rangement. I provide an especially effective means for securing the buffers 35 which may receive the initial. impact from the torpedo, said buifershaving a practically universal movement.

The action of the members comprising the guard has already been described in con? nection with the description of the mechanical construction audit is believed that nothing further in that connection is requiredfor the complete understanding of the dev1ce..

Iii-Fig. 3, the. relative position of the connection with the side of a ship, a plurale ity of pivoted members constituting bufiers mounted within the rigid member, and resilicnt devices connecting said pivoted members.

2. In a device of the class described,- asub stantially rigid member to be mounted onthe hull of aship, a plurality of resiliently mounted and pivoted members connected with the rigid member, SE'LldPlVOtQClIDQlDf bers constituting buffers and having, del-g fleeting surfaces for engagement by a torpedo or the like. 7

3. In a device of theclass described, a unit comprising a substantially rigid member for connection with the hull of a ship, a plural-L ity of buffers pivotally mounted thereon, and resilient means for pivotally connect ing the bufi'ers,said buffers having torpedo deflecting surfaces.

a. In a device of the class described, a unit comprising a member'tobemounted: on the hull of a ship, a plurality of pivoted members mounted in said member first mentioned, resilient devices connecting the pivotally mounted members, and buii'ing devices mounted on certain of the resilient devicesintermediate of the pivoted members first" mentioned.

5.111 a device of the class described, a" unit comprislng a plurality of buffers having torpedo deflecting'surfaces, means for mounting saidbuflers andxmeans for com necting said buifers permitting wave-like:

motion to betransmitted: through a series of said buffers 6. In a device of the class described, a unit comprising a plurality of buffers hav-" mg deflecting surfaces, meansfor pivoting j said buffers for swinging in'given direc tions, resilient means connectingya plurality of buffers and transmitting motion there'- to when placed under tension, and an addi-. tional buffing device mounted between certain ofrthe buffers last .mentionedand ar-, ranged to be deflected in any direction with reference to the main axis thereof. i

7. In a device of the class described, a series of units arranged substantially paral lel with reference to each other andc omprising a series of buffers, certain of which a are mounted to swing in a given direction with reference to the longltudinal axis of the buffer as a whole, resilient means for connecting the buffers, and additional buffers mounted to be deflected in any directron with reference to the longitudinal axis thereof. I

8. In a device of the class described, amof buffing devices mounted therein and con series of units comprising a plurality of channel members arranged substantially parallel with reference to each other and extending from a point near the water line of a ships'hull toward the keel thereof, said units comprising a plurality of buffers pivotally mounted, resllient members connecting said bulTers and adapted to transmit motion thereto.

9. In device of the class described, a unit comprising a channel member, abutments formed at the ends of the channel member, buffers pivotally mounted within said channel member, leaf springs connecting the buffers in a series and having connection with said abutments, and additional buffers mounted on certain of said springs and disposed between the buffers first mentioned. v

10. In a device of the class described, a unit comprising a channel member, a bufling device mounted therein and arranged to swing laterally, said buffing device comprising an outer member having a torpedo deflecting surface, and a shank member for effecting connection with the channel memher, and a spring mounted to retain said buifer in position under normal conditions, and to permit of the deflection of the buifer under impact.

11. In a device of the class described, a unit comprising a rigid member, a plurality stituting a series, the individual members of which are under the control of the other member of said series, resilient members connecting the buffers, certain of said resilient members being adapted to carry additional buiflng devices.

12. In a device of the class described, a unit comprising a channel member having cut-away portions near the ends thereof, abutments at the ends of the channel members, bulfcrs comprising outer portions having deflecting surfaces and shank members pivoted to the channel, springs extending between the adjacent bufiing devices and having pivotal connection with the shanks thereof at points spaced from the edges of the channel, certain of said springs having connection with the abutments and certain of the springs being adapted to carry mounting devices for additional buffers, and butling devices mounted to swing in any direction with reference to their main axes, said bufling devices last mentioned being adapted to receive impact from a torpedo and to deflect said torpedo and simultaneously swing the adjacent buffers to a position to further deflect said torpedo.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

JOHN MORCH. ANTHOKY MORCH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained in five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

